S1 - Hiemer 4th in Andorra; retains S1 leadership
KTM's Bernd Hiemer may have missed the podium in the mountains of Andorra on Sunday but he came back strong in the second S1 race to hold onto the red number plate as championship leader.
Hiemer had an event filled weekend, crashing in Saturday's training where he suffered nasty bruising and grazes. Then on race day he went out hard and fast on the twisty, 13-corner circuit almost on the border of Andorra and France in race one. He was in the front of the pack when he crashed in the difficult offroad section of the course, dropping right back in the field. A huge effort by the German rider saw him push his way back to fifth but the pack closed in around him and he was unable to break free. He eventually crossed the finish in seventh place. "After the crash I lost my rhythm and I made some mistakes," Hiemer said. "I was pushing too much."
All out attack in race two
There were no doubt about Hiemer's intentions in the second race, even though he said after the race he had felt tired and had some pain in his arms. He got away well and immediately went on the attack, leading in the opening laps and recording times that he later said were "quite okay". This time he stayed out of trouble in the tricky offroad corners. Hiemer's second place in race two for overall fourth in the GP meant he sacrificed four points in the battle for the title and he now leads Thierry van den Bosch of France by 234 - 220. Bernd will now prepare for the penultimate round in Italy in two weeks time and will spend some of that time concentrating on motocross. With two more GPs before the close of the 2008 season and still another 100 points up for grabs, his bid for the title is still very much alive.
GP Results (seven of nine)
1. Thomas Chareyre, France, Husqvarna, 25-25—50
2. Ivan Lazzarini, Italy, Aprilia, 20-20—40
3. Thierry van den Bosch, France, Aprilia, 22-18—40
4. Bernd Hiemer, Germany, KTM, 14-22—36
5. Jerome Giraudo, France, Honda16-16—32
Championship standings (after seven of nine)
1. Bernd Hiemer, Germany, KTM 234
2. Thierry van den Bosch, France, Aprilia, 220
3. Ivan Lazzarini, Italy, Aprilia, 198
4. Thomas Chareyre, France, Husqvarna, 196
5. Matthew Winstanley, Britain, KTM, 155
S2 - Andorra no fertile ground for KTM's Pignotti
| Italian veteran S2 rider Attilio Pignotti had an eventful if at times painful weekend at the seventh of nine GPs on Sunday finishing sixth and fifth in the two races for overall sixth place high in the mountains of Andorra. |
Racing at an altitude of 2400 m above sea level in the ski resort of Pas de la Casa very close to the French border proved to be problematic for Pignotti, whose injury-plagued season continued when he hit a tyre in free practice, twisting his left knee. This added a painful dimension to tackling the GP circuit, the highest permanent racing facility in the world that is made up of no less than 13 corners.
Pignotti was sixth in the official practice, a result that he was able to maintain in the first race by biting through the pain of the injury. He looked more comfortable in race two, getting away well at the start and contesting third place with Christian Iddon for three quarters of the race. Pignotti then came away empty handed after a charge by Delepine and eventually had to settle for fifth at the flag.
For his sixth overall Pignotti picked up 31 points and is in fourth place in the championship standings with 194 points. He still has a chance to catching Delepine, who is in third with 211, but the two leaders Chareyre and Gozzini have established a strong two-way lead. Pignotti will consult doctors about his injured knee and will be doing whatever is necessary to be in good shape for the races at home in Italy in two weeks time, the penultimate round of the season.
GP Results (seven of nine)
1. Adrien Chareyre, France, Husqvarna 22-25--47
2. Davide Gozzini, Italy, TM, 25-22—47
3. Gerald Delepine, Belgium, Husqvarna, 20-20—40
4. Christian Iddon, Britain, Aprilia, 16-18—34
5. Dominique Poulain, France, Husaberg, 18-14—32
6. Attilio Pignotti, Italy, KTM, 15-16—31
Championship standings (after seven of nine)
1. Adrien Chareyre, France, Husqvarna 275 points
2. Davide Gozzini, Italy, TM, 269
3. Gerald Delepine, Belgium, Husqvarna, 211
4. Attilio Pignotti, Italy, KTM, 194
5. Luca Minutillui, Italy, Aprilia, 180
Photographer: Batini P.
